A brief note on a notable young talent before my poem "No Umbrella Needed"
Introducing a nature photograph by Sophie Palmer
As we all know photographs are a wonderful accompaniment to our writings.
Today I would like to introduce the work of a young photographer Sophie Palmer
who captured this particularly appropriate photograph last year when she was ten,
yes, that is correct, ten-years-old. To a young woman with a wonderful eye.
Thank you for sharing your vision
Welcome Sophie Palmer
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| "Raindrops on Grass" by Sophie Palmer daughter of Alexandra Palmer aka The Happy Amateur |
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| Rain Drops On Grass by michele walters |
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| Enhanced Rainbow -Barb Ver Sluis |
No Umbrella Needed
They didn't take an umbrella to play
They were five and six, boy and girl
Running knee deeper into the lapping lake
On a bright sunbathed day
They didn't take an umbrella
Did not inherit the excuses of their families
For why they should not play together
When lightning cut the sky and thunder clapped
They joined wet pruned fingers and ran through
Lapping water past the shore to
The oak tree in the grassy center, their haven
Under low reaching summer full oak leaves, they
Sat close, bumping bodies for warmth, half laying- leaning against
The sturdy thick trunk and then
Vowed with a pecked kiss to
Meet again
When they were grown
On this same day
Vowed to bring no umbrella despite the weather
And smiled in satisfied sighed silence
As rain spattered the lapping lake
And light-shifts lifted the clouds
As a falling shimmering sun fell quickly
And they rose and ran through the wet grass
Laughing
Home with hair slick soaked
They were five and six, boy and girl
No umbrella needed when the rain falls
Diamond droplets of pittered-patter-pleasure
Diamond droplets of pittered-patter-pleasure
You painted a lovely setting. Their promise to each other made me think of the movie "One day", though of course they're only kids.
ReplyDeleteAw - will have to look for the film. Thank you :)
DeleteA sweet innocence, nicely captured.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping and such a lovely comment.
DeleteDefinitely understand 'no umbrellas.' What a touching poem you have written here....of childhood playfulness, innocence, and love
ReplyDeleteOh Mary - yes! Thank you for stopping and sharing with me :)
Deletenice sentiment. That is a good age before social and family expectations crush natural inclinations. Really like the imagery/premise of no umbrella needed :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much - I am delighted that you enjoyed the premise with me :)
DeleteThere are some wonderful moments in this poem, but I started to worry when they sheltered under an oak tree in a storm: did nobody tell them how dangerous that is? Better to get wet - skin is waterproof!
ReplyDeleteI was astonished at your comment on my poem, as I genuinely thought it was a mess! Thanks for the morale booster!
:) Viv- I did think of the little one's safety and then realized poetic license gave them no need for an umbrella of any sort. Your poem was truly magnificent - be boosted. :)
DeleteThese are my favorites:
ReplyDelete"When lightning cut the sky and thunder clapped
They joined wet pruned fingers and ran through"
"Sat close, bumping bodies for warmth, half laying- leaning against
The sturdy thick trunk and then"
I also like the foreshadowing of the diamond drops at the end.
I am very moved that you took the time to point out these lines. Thank you :)
DeleteI wish I could jump inside your poem, maybe even be six for a little while..sigh..
ReplyDeleteHere's a couple of awesome :-) pictures my daughter took, one of them is "Raindrops on Grass!"
http://www.thehappyamateur.com/2012/02/skies-and-raindrops.html
Alex - Thank you for the wonderful comment. Your daughter's photograph is perfect for this poem - if you think she'd like to see it here on this blog with credited to her, let me know! :). It is a lovely photograph.
DeleteI think she'd like that very much, thank you, Pearl :-)
Delete"Raindrops on Grass" by Sophie Palmer
(She took the picture in 2011 when she was ten.)
Such a beautifully well spun story, Pearl...so vivid you bring your reader right into the moment!! I really enjoy your sweet alliteration in the last line...very befitting of this piece!!
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah - interesting that you liked that line - only line I changed mindfully -happy you liked :)
DeleteReally like the repetition about the umbrella which underlines that age and its bubble of innocense and exploring, that sense that the whole world awaits to be discovered. And everything is a bit of a secret. You captured all of it so well.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/
Awww thank you Elizabeth :)
DeleteVery beautiful... I love the hope in this, the innocence. It's a shame we lose that...
ReplyDeleteMaybe a small part remains which is why we can relate to images like this:)
DeleteOh Pearl, this is perfect. The poem unfolds a story beautifully, and the ending is divine.
ReplyDeleteWow! Can I print and frame this comment?! :). Thank you Brenda - for the words, your enjoyment and sharing both with me :)
DeleteLying in the protection of the oak tree was umbrella enough. Who could ask for more?
ReplyDeleteWhirling with Robinson Jeffers
Absolutely Magic ! Thank you so much for stopping by :)
DeleteI hope they kept their date! thanks for sharing ~
ReplyDeleteThank YOU for stopping by and taking the time to comment :)
DeleteSuch a lovely, story, Pearl. Loved it with its scenes of childhood innocence and the kind of love that blossoms without boundaries, without restraint, and without forethought.
ReplyDeleteJust a nice picture of who we could be as people if we never carried umbrellas to fend off what the rains might bring.
Ah Claudsy you were right there with me ...! Thank you!
DeleteSuch a lovely story you've presented us with, Pearl. Would that adults could live their lives without umbrellas as armor against those perceived terrors that life can bring.
ReplyDeleteLove this, my friend.
Aw Claudsy - here you are again - Yes, lovely lives to live - well said .... Love that you loved this :). Thank YOU my friend.
DeleteWhat a lovely scene you have painted....made me wish they did meet again, when they grew up.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Claudsy - it would serve us well to continue our lives living without the need for umbrellas ... sweet poem of an innocent time, wistful foreshadowing a future that might contain that same innocence ... very nice.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sharon - it would serve us all well wouldn't it? For all around this spinning blue marble to live such lives? Yes, well put, it would serve us well :)
DeletePearl, this is lovely. It reminded of a scene from the book "Snow Falling on the Cedars". Well done.
ReplyDeletePamela
Wow, Pamela - high praise indeed! "Snow Falling on Cedars" was beautifully written - although that is all I recall of it at the moment! Thank you so very much, delighted you enjoyed and buoyed by your comment.
DeleteWhat a precious tale of innocence and joy. I loved the read.
ReplyDeleteOh Kim - I love when someone can love something that has come to me. Thank you so very much for sharing!
DeleteSo sweet!
ReplyDeleteAh Ina - Delighted that you enjoyed. Thanks for stopping by :)
DeletePearl! Thank you. It means so much to Sophie, she's surprised, overwhelmed, and very happy :-)
ReplyDeleteA sweet premise to enjoy life this way. Nicely done...
ReplyDeleteThanks so very much for stopping and your lovely comment :)
DeleteWhat a cool post!
ReplyDeleteAw thanks Stan Ski! Thank you for stopping by - I visited your site and you do know "cool" so I am honored :)
DeleteOh, lovely. But I have to know - did they keep the promise to meet again? (Yes, I get the symbolism, but I want to believe this is a true story.
ReplyDeleteOh dear Rosemary - Believe as you wish that is the magic of poetry is it not? Thank you for stopping and your sweet comment :)
Deletepitter patter pleasure.... raindrops will never sound the same...
ReplyDeleteAw truly, what a sweet comment! Thank you :)
DeleteThat was beautifully done!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mad - so very much appreciated ! Delighted that you enjoyed :)
Deletebeautiful Pearl... I love how the image inspired you... children are full of magic... we must incline our hearts to see, feel, understand the world in that way... a gift you possess my friend.
ReplyDeleteAwww what a delicious comment :)
DeleteThank you so very much Laura - much appreciated :)
I would like to see a verse every year of them reuniting as they get older. Also reminds me of The Blue Lagoon. - though those children were a bit older I think.
ReplyDeleteI've let 'Jimmy' play just a tad, but he is a serious one:
http://julesgemsandstuff.blogspot.com/2012/10/sunday-whirl-78-new-recruit.html
Yes, I can see the Blue Lagoon feeling. Would be interesting to see them each year but lose some of this isolated magic of innocence which will not be recaptured but perhaps remembered each year. :)
DeleteI can see them!
ReplyDeleteOh thank you! That is a wonderful comment :)
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